Vacuum cleaner



Dec. 29, 1936. G. E. LOFGREN VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 10, 1934 i 10% 5 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES VACUUM CLEANER Gustai. Einar Lofgren, Riverside, Conn., asslgnor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Dcl., a corporation of Delaware Application November 10, 1934, Serial No. 752,437 4 6 Claims.

My invention relates to a cleaning tool or implement for use in connection with a vacuum cleaner. More especially, it relates to a new and improved form of brush nozzle.

Among the objects of my invention is the provision of a nozzle of this type in which the necessary parts are clamped together and in which no bolts or other special holding means are required, the resiliency of the various parts being relied upon forysecuring them together. Such type of construction not only gives a very neat appearance, but it also reduces materially the cost of assembling the brush nozzle.

Further objects and advantages of my inven- 5- tion will be apparent from the accompanying drawing which forms apart of this specification and on which:

Fig. 1, is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a part included in the device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, reference character Ill designates a member preferably made of sheet metal and stamped to the form of a hollow shell 25 having a lower opening or mouth as shown and having an inner wall or inclined tubular portion which is adapted to receive the end I! of a suction hose or a usual rigid tubular handle member. The passage 26 formed by tubular portion II has a lower opening in a plane which is horizontal when the tool is in its normal position on a horizontal surface. Tubular member II is inclined so that handle member I! may be held in a convenient inclined position. Member Hi also includes an outer wall or flange l3 which is which has a lower edge H in a plane parallel to the plane of the opening of tubular portion II. -The main part 01' flange l3 may be said to be inclined the same as tubular portion H. The lower edge ll of the flange is brought inwardly toward the center of the tool so as to have a smaller diameter for reasons which will presently appear. A member I5 is formed with a substantially spherical portion it which may be said to constitute the central part of the tool. Integral withspherieal portion I6 is a more or less laterally extending flange portion or annular bridge member l1. At approximately the boundary between the spherical and flange portions, member I! is formed with a circular groove or recess 18 for receiving the lower edge of tubular portion 1 I. Flange portions I1 is adapted to embrace the lower end of vflange or wall l3, contacting the generally concentric with inner wall H and wall on both the inside and outside thereof, as is clearly shown in the drawing. Flange portion I! thus forms a groove or recess into which wall I3 extends.

The opening IS in the lower end of the 5 hollow member is bounded by a reinforcing bead '20.

A circular holding member 2! in the form of a ring split at 2| and having a U-shaped crosssection supports a ring of brush bristles 22. 0

Member 2| is preferably made of metal and hence somewhat resilient. The bristles are looped around a center wire 23 and the open ends of memb 2| are brought together to securely clamp the coped portions of the bristles in place. 15 The holding member 2| is clamped within the lower opening or mouth of shell Hi adjacent to the flange or wall l3 with a part of the lateral flange portion I! of hollow member 15 between member 2| and wall l3. The thickness of the hollow member and the relative diameters of 'holding member 2| and flange l3 are so chosen that; once the holding member has been ;forced past the lower edge I 4 of smaller diameter and into the position shown in the drawing, which 25 may be done by slightly compressing the ring to reduce its diameter by forcing the split ends 2| together, it will be securely clamped by the flange with the hollow member acting in the nature of a packing therebetween. If the hollow member is made of rubber, the holding member 2| may be more readily forced into place by wetting the rubber with alcohol. This acts as a lubricant and permits the holding member 2| to be readily slipped into place. When in place, .the resiliency of the holding member causes it to tend to expand to the diameter which it has in unstressed condition, whereby the ring is securely held in place, the smaller diameter of the lower edge l4 aiding in preventing its removal. The lateral flange ll of hollow member I5 is prefer- I ably formed with a thickened portion or portions, preferably rormed by ribs 24 on the outside of that part of the lateral flange which contacts the outside of flange 13. These thickened portions 5 increase the strength of the hollow member at this point and cause it to tightly grip the flange. This part of the hollow member also serves as means for protecting furniture which may be accidentally contacted by the tool.

The spherical part of hollow member I5 extends within the ring of bristles 22 and serves to support them when they are pressed against and moved over a surface being cleaned. This spherical part prevents the bristles from being bent at sharpangles, which would be injurious tothe bristles.

The lateral flange ll of hollow member l5 serves to completely close the space between inner wall II and outer wall 12 of member In, thereby preventing the accumulation of dirt within this space. Consequently, it may be said that the web or flange l1 extends across the mouth of shell ill.

It will be noted that the various members making up the brush are held together entirely by frictional clamping and that no separate fastening means such as bolts or rivets are required. As has been previously pointed out, the absence of such fastening means not only improves the appearance of the tool, but also reduces the cost oi assembling the various parts.

While I have shown and described one preferred embodiment 01' my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for the purpose of illustration only, and that my invention is to be limited only by the appended claims when viewed in the light of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. A brush including a shell having spaced walls defining an annular chamber between them and a central suction passage, a substantially annular bridge member bridging said annular chamber, a bristle holder within said chamber, with a portion of said bridge member between the same and the outer wall whereby the parts are maintained in position with the bridge member in contact with the inner and outer walls.

2. A brush including a shell having spaced walls defining an annular chamber between them and a ,central suction passage, a substantially annular bridge member bridging said annular chamber, a bristle holder within said chamber, with a portion of said bridge member between the same and the outer wall whereby the parts are maintained in position with the bridge member in contact with the inner and outer walls, said bridge member being formed of resilient material and having its-inner portion forming at least a part of the suction nozzle.

3. A brush as defined in claim 1 in which said outer portion of said bridge member overlaps the edge of said outer wall to provide a guard.

4. A brush nozzle including a shell having an inner wall defining a suction passage and an outer wall spaced from said inner wall, said walls being joined together at one end, a bristle holder within the space between said walls, a bridge member of flexible compressible material having an outer portion disposed between said bristle holder and said outer wall for frictionally retaining said bristle holder, and having an inner portion engaging said inner wall, and a flexible hollow part connected to said inner portion, said hollow part forming a flexible continuation of said suction passage.

5. A brush as defined in claim 4 in which the bridge member and hollow part are integral and made of rubber.

6. A brush nozzle including a shell of rigid material having an inner wall defining a suction passage and an outer wall spaced from said inner wall, said walls being joined together at one end, the free ends terminating in substantially the same plane, a substantially annular rubber bridge member overlying the free end of said outer wall and engaging and being supported by the free end of said inner wall, and a resiliently expansible bristle holder within the space between said walls, a portion of said rubber bridge member being clamped between said resilient holder and said rigid outer wall, and providing frictional engagement with said holder and outer wall.

GUSTAF EINAR DOFGREN. 

